Light weight, compact, remountable face-supported electronic display

• US 20030090439A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Petry, Sebastian M.J., Spitzer, Mark B., Flender, Gregg, Hunter, Gregory H., Zavracky, Paul M., Arney, Michel D.
• Application Number:
  US10/237,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0196 having transparent supporting structure for display mounting, e.g. to a window or a windshield
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

An electronic imaging system is mountable on a user'"'"'s head without eyewear. The system provides a computer monitor image or other electronic display, such as television or data display. The system provides many of the functions and advantages of known eyewear-mounted displays, but without requiring the user to wear spectacles. The system can be fit to a wide range of users without prescriptive correction or other customization.

Claims

1. A head-supported electronic display system comprising:

a frame comprising a support member and three support elements mounted on the support member, the three support elements configured to support the frame on a user'"'"'s head at three discrete locations; and

a display assembly mounted on the support member, the display system comprising an image generator and a lens assembly comprising a solid optical relay lens and an eyepiece.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the three support elements comprise:

a nose support;

an ear support; and

a cheek support.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the ear support is adjustably mounted to the support member of the frame.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the support member includes a slot;

and

the ear support includes a tab slidably received within the slot for travel along the length of the slot.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the ear support includes a flexible arm shaped to fit over and behind an ear of the user.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a compliant material covering the flexible arm.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a speaker mounted to the ear support.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the speaker further includes an acoustic pipe in communication with the user'"'"'s ear.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the cheek support comprises a cheek pad configured to rest against skin over a zygomatic bone of the user'"'"'s face.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the cheek support is adjustably mounted to the support member of the frame.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the support member includes a slot; and

the cheek support includes a tab slidably received within the slot for travel along the length of the slot.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the cheek support includes an adjustably mounted cheek pad.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the display system is supported on a mount; and

the cheek support is supported on the mount.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the display system is adjustably supported on the mount.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the cheek support further includes a cheek pad adjustably supported on the mount.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the display assembly further includes a cable in communication with the image generator; and

the ear support includes a cable retaining member configured to retain the cable generally adjacent the support member.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the support member of the frame comprises a temple portion and a face portion.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the support member of the frame comprises a temple portion and a face portion;

a first of the three support elements comprises a nose support mounted to the face portion;

a second of the three support elements comprises a cheek support mounted to the face portion; and

a third of the three support elements comprises an ear support mounted to the temple portion.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the support member of the frame comprises a temple portion and a face portion; and

a hinge is located at an intermediate position along the temple portion, whereby the support member is foldable.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the image generator is disposed on the support member at a peripheral position to the user'"'"'s field of view.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the image generator is disposed on the support member at a location that does not obscure the user'"'"'s eye.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the image generator comprises a transmissive liquid crystal display, a reflective liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode array, an inorganic light emitting diode array, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electro-luminescent display, or a scanning display.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable in communication with the display assembly, and the support member further includes a cable retaining member configured to retain the cable generally adjacent the support member.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable in communication with the image generator to provide video signals.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker mounted to the frame.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable in communication with the speaker to provide audio signals.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the speaker includes an acoustic pipe in communication with the user'"'"'s ear.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable operative to provide video and audio signals.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the eyepiece further comprises a polarization beam splitter, a quarter wave plate, and a magnifying mirror to direct a magnified image from the image generator to the user'"'"'s eye.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the eyepiece further includes a reflecting surface in the solid optical relay lens to direct a light path from the image generator along the solid optical relay lens.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the solid optical relay lens is sufficiently large to contact facial bones of the user'"'"'s face in an impact.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the solid optical relay lens is adjustably mounted to the frame.